This invention relates to containers. Embodiments of the invention relate to containers having movable support arrangements. Embodiments of the invention relate to containers having movable support arms.

Containers with movable support arms are known in the art as bale arm containers. Such containers have a body defining an internal region and arms pivotally attached to opposite walls of the container body at upper regions thereof. The arms are movable between a region outside the body to a support position over the internal region. However, the arms of known such containers can be difficult to be moved to the support position.

According to one aspect of this invention, there is provided a container comprising: a wall arrangement defining an internal region; and a support arrangement attached to the wall arrangement; the support arrangement being arrangeable in a support position in which the support arrangement extends across the internal region; the support arrangement being arrangeable in a non-support position in which the support arrangement extends along the wall arrangement within the internal region in engagement with the wall arrangement; and the support arrangement is movable between the support and the non-support positions.

The wall arrangement may define a locating formation, and the support arrangement has a locating projection received in the locating formation when the support arrangement is in the non-support position.

The locating projection may be received in a concavity defined by the base of a further container stacked on the support arrangement, thereby locating the further container thereon. The wall arrangement may have an upper edge. The locating formation may be open at the upper edge of the wall arrangement. The locating formation may be a locating indentation.

The non-support position of the support arrangement may be a stowed position of the support arrangement. The support arrangement may comprise a substantially planar support member. The support arrangement may comprise a support arm.

The wall arrangement may have a main shoulder formation providing a main receiving area defined by the wall arrangement. The main shoulder formation may extend outwardly from a lower region of the wall arrangement. The main receiving area may extend from the upper edge of the inner surface of the wall arrangement to the main shoulder formation.

When the support arrangement is in the non-support position, the support arrangement may be received in the main receiving area. When the locating projection is received in the locating formation, the support arrangement may extend along the main receiving area thereby providing a load bearing portion along the wall arrangement.

The support arrangement may be provided within the internal region defined by the wall arrangement. The support arrangement may be pivotally attached to the wall arrangement.

The support arrangement may comprise a central portion. The central portion may be elongate. The central portion may be substantially planar.

The container may comprise a base from which the wall arrangement may extend. The container may comprise a body, the body comprising the wall arrangement and the base.

When the support arrangement is in the support position, the orientation of the central portion may be transverse to the orientation of the central portion when the support arrangement is in the non-support position. When the support arrangement is in the support position, the plane of the central portion may extend parallel to the base.

When the support arrangement is in the support position, the central portion may be substantially parallel to the base. When the support arrangement is in the non support position, the central portion may extend transverse to the base.

The support arrangement may include an attachment portion to attach the support arrangement to the wall arrangement at a pivot point. The support arrangement may comprise a connecting member to connect the attachment portion to the central portion. The connecting member may extend transverse to the central portion.

The attachment portion may be a projecting attachment portion. The attachment portion may project from the connecting member.

The attachment portion may have an actuating formation to enable the support arrangement to be moved between the support and non-support positions.

The actuating formation may comprise a socket to receive tool for rotating the support arrangement. The socket may be a polygonal socket, to receive a key. The socket may be hexagonal socket. The key may be a hex key.

The support arrangement may comprise two of the attachment portions. Each attachment portion may be provided at a respective opposite end of the support arrangement. The attachment portions may pivotally attach the support arrangement to the wall arrangement at pivot points. The container may comprise a respective pivot point at each attachment portion.

The support arrangement may comprise two of the connecting members. A respective connecting member may be provided at each opposite end of the central portion. A respective attachment portion may be provided on each connecting member. The container may include a guide arrangement to guide the support arrangement between the support and non-support positions. The guide arrangement may comprise a guide member on one of the support arrangement and the wall arrangement.

The guide arrangement may comprise a guide track to interact with the guide member. The guide track may be provided on the other of the support arrangement and the wall arrangement.

The support arrangement may include the guide members to guide the support arrangement between the support and the non-support positions. The wall arrangement may include the guide track to interact with the guide members.

The guide members may move along the guide track to guide the support arrangement when the support arrangement moves between the support and the non support positions. The guide members may project from the connecting members. The guide track may extend around the pivot point. The guide track may curve around the pivot point. The guide track may be arranged above the pivot point.

The guide arrangement may comprise two guide tracks, which may be arranged opposite one another. Each guide track may be arranged adjacent a respective pivot point.

In one container, the, or each, guide track may comprise a slot extending through the wall arrangement.

In a modification of the aforesaid container, the, or each, guide track may comprise a guide shoulder on the wall arrangement.

The support arrangement may comprise two of the guide members. A respective guide member may be provided at each opposite end of the central portion. Each guide member may be provided on a respective one of the connecting members. The container may include cooperating securing means to secure the support arrangement in the support position.

The securing means may comprise a securing projection on one of the support arrangement and the wall arrangement. The securing means may comprise a securing recess defined by the other of the support arrangement and the wall arrangement.

The securing projection may be received by the securing recess to secure the support arrangement in the support position. The securing projection may engage the support arrangement or the wall arrangement when the securing projection is received in the securing recess.

The securing projection may be provided on the wall arrangement. The securing recess may be defined by the support arrangement. When the securing projection is received by the securing recess, the securing projection may engage the support arrangement within the securing recess. When so engaged, the securing projection inhibits movement of the support arrangement to the non-support position.

The connecting member may define the securing recess. When the securing projection is received by the securing recess, the securing projection may engage the connecting member within the securing recess.

The securing projection may have a corner to engage the region defining the securing recess. The corner may engage said region when the securing projection is received in the securing recess. The corner may engage the connecting member when the securing projection is received in the securing recess.

When the securing projection engages the securing arrangement within the securing recess, the securing projection may inhibit movement of the support arrangement from the support position.

The wall arrangement may comprise a plurality of wall members. The wall arrangement may comprise a pair of opposite first wall members. The wall arrangement may comprise a pair of opposite second wall members. The pair of opposite first wall members may extend transverse to the pair of opposite second wall members.

The support arrangement may be attached to the first wall members adjacent one of the second wall members. The main receiving area may be defined in one of the second wall members.

The container may comprise two of the support arrangements. Each of the support arrangements may be attached to the first wall members adjacent one of the second wall members. Each of the support arrangements may be pivotally attached to both of the first wall members at the attachment portions of the respective support arrangement.

Each end of both second wall members may have a respective main shoulder formation providing the main receiving area. The main receiving areas may extend from the upper edge of each second wall member to the respective main shoulder formations. The central portion of the support arrangement may be received in the main receiving area defined by each second wall member.

The locating indentation may be defined in the main receiving area. The locating indentation may be open at the upper edge of the second wall member.

Each of the second wall members may define a through hole. The through hole may function as a handle to allow the container to be carried. The through hole may be defined in the second wall member beneath the respective main shoulder formation.

Alternatively, each of the second wall members may be devoid of a through hole. The handles may be provided by projections on the second wall member.

The first wall members may have opposite ends at which the second wall members are attached. The first wall members may comprise subsidiary shoulder formations at each end. The subsidiary shoulder formations may be provided at corner regions of the first wall members. The subsidiary shoulder formations of each of the first wall members may provide subsidiary receiving areas in which the connecting members and the attachment portions are received.

The subsidiary shoulder formations may extend transverse to the main shoulder formations. The subsidiary receiving areas may extend transverse to the main receiving area. The subsidiary receiving areas at each end of the first wall members may extend to the main receiving area of the respective second wall member.

The base may have a pair of opposite first edge regions at which the first wall members are attached. The base may have a pair of opposite second edge regions at which the second wall members are attached.

The base may have an underside defining a respective concavity at each second edge. Each concavity may be configured to receive the locating projection of a support arrangement of a further container on which the container is stacked.

The support arrangement may comprise a single locating projection. The container may comprise a single locating formation defined by the wall arrangement. The base may define a single concavity at each end.

In a modification, the support arrangement may comprise three locating projections spaced therealong. In this modification, the container may comprise three of the locating formations spaced along the wall arrangement. The base may define three concavities spaced along each end of the container.

The base may define a depression. A plurality of strengthening members may be provided in the depression to strengthen the base. Each strengthening member may be substantially straight, and may extend diagonally across the depression.

The container may comprise dividers arrangeable in the internal region. The dividers may include fastening formations to secure the dividers to the first wall members. The first wall members may define fastening slots to receive the fastening formations. An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view from one side of a container, showing support arrangements in support and non-support positions;

Figure 2 is a perspective view from above of the container showing the support arrangements in the support and non-support positions;

Figure 3 is a perspective view from above of the container, showing the support arrangements in the support positions;

Figure 4 is a perspective from above of the container, showing the support arrangements in the non-support positions;

Figure 5 is a close up view from outside the container showing the support arrangement in the non-support position;

Figure 6 is a close up view from inside the container showing the support arrangement in the non-support position;

Figure 7 is an external view of an upper corner region of the wall arrangement, with the support arrangement in a non-support position;

Figure 8 is an internal view of the upper region of the wall arrangement, with the support arrangement in the non-support position;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of two of the containers nested one within the other, and a third container stacked upon the upper of the two nested containers;

Figure 10 is a sectional side view of the three containers shown in Figure 10;

Figure 11 is a view from below of the container; Figure 12 is a close up of a region of the wall arrangement;

Figure 13 shows the use of dividers in an internal region of the container;

Figure 14 is an internal view of the upper region of the wall arrangement of a modified container, with the support arrangement in the non-support position;

Figure 15 is an internal view of an upper corner region of the wall arrangement of the modified container, with the support arrangement in the support position;

Figure 16 is a top perspective view of the modified container with the support arrangements in the support position; and

Figure 17 is a view from below of the modified container.

The drawings show a container 10 comprising a body 12 defining an internal region 14. The body 12 comprises a base 16 having a pair of opposite first edges 18A and a pair of opposite second edges 18B extending transverse to the first edges 18A. In the embodiment shown, the base 16 is generally rectangular.

The body 12 further comprises a wall arrangement 20 extending upwardly from the base 16. The wall arrangement 20 comprises a pair of opposite first wall members 22 extending from the first edges 18A of the base 16.

The wall arrangement 20 further comprises a pair of opposite second wall members 24 extending from the second edges 18B of the base 16. The first wall members 22 are arranged transverse to the second wall members 24. Each of the second wall members 24 defines a through hole 26, which functions as a handle to allow the container 10 to be carried.

Each of the second wall members 24 defines a locating formation in the form of a locating indentation 28, open at the upper edge 30 of the second wall member 24. The second wall member 24 has a main shoulder formation 32 extending outwardly from a lower region 33 of the second wall member 24, thereby providing a main receiving area 34.

The main receiving area 34 extends upwardly from the main shoulder formation 32 to the upper edge 30 of the second wall member 24. As shown in the drawings, the through hole 26 is defined just below the main shoulder formation 32.

The main shoulder formation 32 and the main receiving area 34 extend across the second wall member 24. The main receiving area 34 extends along the inner surface of the second wall member 24 from the upper edge 30 to the main shoulder formation 32.

The container 10 further includes two support arrangements 36 pivotally attached to the first wall members 22 adjacent the edge regions thereof. Each of the support arrangements 36 is in the form of a support arm extending across the respective second wall member 24.

Each support arrangement 36 comprises an elongate substantially planar central portion 38. At least one elongate locating projection 40 extends from the central portion 38.

The container 10 has a single locating projection 40 on the central portion 38 of each of the support arrangements 36. Modifications of the container 10 have three locating projections (see Figures 14 to 16 and the description below).

Each support arrangement 36 further includes two projecting attachment portions 42 to pivotally attach the support arrangement 36 to each of the first wall members 22 (see Figure 7). Each attachment portion 42 is provided at a respective opposite end of the central portion 38.

Each support arrangement 36 is pivotally movable between a support position and a stowed position. In the support position, the central portion 38 extends across the internal region 14 and is spaced from the adjacent second wall member 24. Also, in the support position, the plane of the central portion 38 extends parallel to the base 16, and the locating projection 40 extends upwardly from the central portion 38.

In the stowed position, the central portion 38 is received in the main receiving area 34, and extends therealong, thereby providing a load bearing portion along the second wall member 24. Also, in the stowed position, the plane of the central portion 38 extends transverse to the base 16 and, in the case of each support arrangement 36 comprising a single locating projection 40, the locating projection 40 is received in the locating indentation 28.

The attachment portions 42 are connected to the central portion 38 by a triangular connecting member 44 provided at each end of the central portion 38. The connecting members 44 are shown most clearly in Figures 7 and 8.

Referring to Figures 7 and 8, the first wall members 22 comprise subsidiary shoulder formations 46 at each corner region between the first wall members 22 and the second wall members 24. The subsidiary shoulder formations 46 of each of the first wall members 22 provide subsidiary receiving areas in the form of subsidiary wall portions 48 in which the connecting members 44 and the attachment portions 42 are pivotally attached.

The subsidiary shoulder formations 46 extend from the main shoulder formations 32, transverse thereto. The subsidiary wall portions 48 extend from main receiving areas 34, transverse thereto.

The subsidiary wall portions 48 are provided in the first wall members 22 adjacent the upper edges of the first wall members 22 at corner regions between the first and second wall members 24.

Each attachment portion 42 projects from the respective connecting member 44 and is received in a pivot aperture 50 defined in the subsidiary wall portions 48 of the first wall members 22. Each attachment portion 42 has an actuating formation to allow the support arrangement 36 to be moved between the support and non-support positions. Each actuating formation is a hexagonal socket 52 defined by the attachment portion 42.

The hexagonal socket 52 is configured to receive a hex key (not shown). Rotation of the hex key in the hexagonal socket 52 rotates the support arrangement 36.

The support arrangements 36 further include guide members 54 projecting from each of the connecting members 44. The guide members 54 are received in guide tracks in the form of curved guide slots 56 (see Figure 7).

The guide slots 56 are defined in the subsidiary wall portions 48 of the first wall members 22.

The guide slots 56 are in the form of curved guide slots above each pivot aperture 50. Each guide slot 56 is in the form of an arc of a circle having its centre at the adjacent pivot aperture 50. The purpose of the guide slots 56 is discussed below.

The container 10 further includes cooperating securing means to secure the support arrangement 36 in the support position.

The securing means comprises a securing projection 49 on each of the subsidiary shoulder formations 46. The securing means further includes a securing recess 58 defined by each connecting member 44. Each securing recess 58 receives the respective securing projection 49 when the support arrangement 36 is moved between the non-support position, shown in Figure 4, to the support position, shown in Figure 3.

Each securing projection 49 has an upper corner 60. When the securing projections 49 are received in the securing recesses 58, the upper corner 60 of each securing projection 49 engages the respective connecting member 44 within the securing recess 58, thereby inhibiting movement of the support arrangement 36 from the support position. Figure 11 shows the underside of the container 10. The base 16 defines a depression 62 extending over a large proportion of the base 16. A plurality of strengthening members 64 are provided in the depression 62 to strengthen the base 16. Each strengthening member 64 is substantially straight, and extends diagonally across the depression 62.

The base 16 also defines positioning concavities 66 at each opposite edge 18B, adjacent the second wall members 24. The concavities 66 are arranged to correspond in size and shape to the locating projections 40. As a result, when the container 10 is stacked on the support arrangements 36 of a lower further container 10, the locating projections 40 of the upper container 10 are received in the concavities 66 of the support arrangements 36 of the lower container 10, thereby locating the upper container 10 on the lower container 10.

Figure 12 is a close up of a region of one of the second wall members 24 in which the second wall member 24 has an opening 68, and an inner skin 70 is provided over the opening 68. The inner skin 70 is attached to the inner surface of the second wall member 24, and defines a pocket 72 in which a label can be disposed. The inner skin 70 includes an upper semi-circular recess 74 into which a finger can be inserted to remove the label. The opening is visible through the semi-circular recess 74 in Figure 12, and can be seen in Figure 5. The label can be viewed through the opening 68.

Figure 13 shows the use of dividers 76 in the internal region 14 of the container 10. The dividers 68 can be secured to the first wall members 22 by means of fastening formations 78, which can be received in fastening slots 80 in the first wall members 22.

In use, both support arrangements 36 are moved to their respective stowed positions to allow the container 10 to be loaded. The container 10 can be carried by the handles to a destination, such as a storage point to a means of transport. When so carried, the support arrangements 36, being disposed in the main receiving area 34 just above the through hole 26, bear some of the load being carried.

When the container 10 has been carried to the destination, the user can press inwardly on the locating projections 40 on the central portions 38. This moves the support arrangements 36 inwardly of the internal region 14, to pivot the support arrangements 36 from the stowed positions to the support positions.

When the support arrangements 36 are so pivoted, the guide members 54 move in the guide slots 56, thereby guiding the support arrangements 36 to their support positions.

When the support arrangements 36 reach their support positions, the securing projections 49 on the subsidiary shoulders are received in the securing recesses 58. The aforesaid upper corners 60 of the securing projections 49 engage the connecting members 44 within the respective securing recesses 58.

In the support position of each of the support arrangements 36, the locating projections 40 extend upwardly. A further similar container 10 can be disposed on the container 10, the further container 10 being stacked upon the support arrangements 36 in their support position.

When so stacked, the locating projections 40 are received in the concavities defined in the base 16 of the further container 10. This locates the further container 10 on the container 10.

If desired, instead of pressing inwardly on the locating projections 40 to move the support arrangements 36 from their stowed positions, the user may insert a hex key into each of the hexagonal sockets 52. Turning the hex key pivots the respective support arrangement 36 between the stowed and support positions.

The above described embodiment provides the advantage that, the provision of the locating indentation 28 allows the container 10 to be loaded and unloaded by automation.

When the support arrangement 36 is in the stowed position, the support arrangement 36 is flush with the lower region of the second wall member 24. As a result, the support arrangement 36 provides a free passage for items in the container 10 to be emptied therefrom when the container 10 is turned upside down. The subsidiary shoulder formations 46 allow the weight of containers 10 stacked on the support arrangement 36 to be transmitted to the first wall members 22.

Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the second wall members 24 are devoid of the through hole 28.

A further modification is shown in Figures 14 to 17, in which a further container 10A is shown. The further container 10A is a modified version of the containerl 0.

The further container 10A has all the features of the container 10, shown in Figures 1 to 13, with the exception of the differences discussed below. In Figures 14 to 17, the features of the further container 10A are designated with the same reference numerals as the corresponding features shown in the previous Figures.

In Figures 14 to 16, the guide tracks are in the form of curved guide shoulders 56A provided in the subsidiary wall portions 48.

Also, in the modification shown in Figures 14 to 17, each support arrangement 36 comprises three of the locating projections, namely a central locating projection 40A and two outer locating projections 40B (see Figure 16). The central locating projection 40A is received in the locating indentation 28, and the two outer locating projections 40 are received in further locating indentations 28A defined in the inner skins 70.

The further container 10A possesses the projection 54. In the container 10A, the projection 54 engages the shoulder 56A, and slides therealong when the support arrangement 36 moved between the support position and the non-support position.

Referring to Figure 17, the base 16 of the container 10A also defines three positioning concavities 66 at each opposite edge 18B, adjacent the second wall members 24. The three positioning concavities 66 comprise a central positioning cavity 66A and two outer positioning concavities 66B. The central concavities 66A are arranged to correspond in size and shape to the central locating projections 40A. The outer concavities 66B are arranged to correspond in size and shape to the outer locating projections 40B.

As a result, when the container 10A is stacked on the support arrangements 36 of a similar further container 10A, in which the support arrangements 36 are in their support positions. The central and outer locating projections 40A, 40B of the upper container 10Aare received in the respective central and outer positioning concavities 66A, 66B of the support arrangements 36 of the lower container 10A, thereby locating the upper container 10Aon the lower container 10A.